Prescott Valley Criminal Law Blog

On behalf of Craig Williams, Attorney at Law, PLLC posted in Drug Charges on Friday, March 15, 2019.

People who are unfamiliar with Arizona drug law might classify all offenses in the same general category. However, when there is an arrest, there is a significant difference between low-level offenses such as possessing a small amount of marijuana and serious offenses that can involve drug sale, drug trafficking and drug distribution in massive amounts. The sentencing for a conviction will also differ. For those who are arrested on drug offenses and labeled a serious drug offender, having a strong legal defense is critical.

A person who is at least 18-years-old or someone under 18 who was tried as an adult and received a conviction for serious drug offenses while there was an ongoing series of events related to drugs with it being a significant source of his or her income will face life imprisonment. There can be no suspended sentence. The person cannot be placed on probation. He or she cannot be pardoned. And there will be no release from incarceration until 25 years have been served or there was a commutation of the sentence.

On behalf of Craig Williams, Attorney at Law, PLLC posted in DUI Charges on Thursday, March 7, 2019.

Throughout our state, law enforcement is vigilant in its attempts to find and stop drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Since DUI is one of the main causes of accidents with injuries and fatalities, it has harsh penalties associated with it should there be a conviction. These penalties can increase in severity depending on the circumstances. Jail time, fines, a driver license revocation and more can be part of the consequences when they are assessed. While no one is suggesting it is appropriate to drive under the influence, it is important to remember that not everyone who is charged is automatically guilty. Having a legal defense is a critical factor in addressing the issues in the case.

A 61-year-old woman was arrested for multiple offenses related to a DUI. The arrest was made at approximately 2 p.m. when a witness contacted law enforcement about a driver moving against traffic on the road. The vehicle subsequently turned into a store parking lot. The witness had followed the vehicle. Before officers arrived, that same witness told the driver to turn the engine off. There were children in the vehicle.

On behalf of Craig Williams, Attorney at Law, PLLC posted in Sex Crimes on Thursday, February 28, 2019.

For people in Prescott Valley and throughout Arizona, facing allegations of sex crimes can drastically effect their lives in a negative way. It can harm their personal life, cause damage to reputation, ruin their professional endeavors and result in an extended jail sentence with limited prospects after they have paid their debt to society. There are many defenses to these charges, but some are explicitly detailed under the law. The charges can be defended against effectively when these circumstances are in place. Having an experienced attorney is essential to that defense.

If there are allegations against a person that he or she committed sexual abuse or had sexual contact with a minor and it was done as part of a lawful medical practice, it is a viable defense. If the victim did not give consent and that was based on an inability to consent with the victim being 15-, 16- or 17-years-old at the time when the conduct allegedly occurred and the person who was arrested was not aware and could not have reasonably known the person's age, it is a defense.

On behalf of Craig Williams, Attorney at Law, PLLC posted in Juvenile Defense on Thursday, February 21, 2019.

Juveniles in Prescott Valley and throughout Yavapai County can find themselves in legal trouble for a variety of reasons. With law enforcement in the area constantly on the lookout for violations such as underage drinking and driving, it is not uncommon for young people to find themselves under arrest and facing the juvenile law system, its consequences and penalties. Because there can be far-ranging implications for convictions when a person was a teenager, it is important to understand what they are up against and have legal assistance in a defense against the allegations.

A 17-year-old male is facing DUI charges after a single vehicle accident. The black vehicle rolled over in the early-morning hours at approximately 1:30 a.m. Deputies went to the scene and found the vehicle. The teen was waiting on the road and stated he had injured a hand and had scratched his chest in the accident. He stated that he and his passenger were not drinking. He was given a breath test and his blood-alcohol level was found to be nearly two times the legal limit at .153. The passenger stated they had been drinking. During tests, THC was found in the driver's system. He was arrested for DUI, DUI drugs and underage DUI.

On behalf of Craig Williams, Attorney at Law, PLLC on Wednesday, February 20, 2019.

Recently, deputies with the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) made a major drug bust of 18 pounds of crystal methamphetamine in the vehicle of a 20-year-old Mexican national who was traveling through the area.

Deputies made the traffic stop on February 12 on Interstate 17 in the early morning hours. According to police reports, the driver was allegedly stopped in Cordes Lakes due to equipment and moving violations. The location of the traffic stop is approximately 20 miles north of Black Canyon City.

On behalf of Craig Williams, Attorney at Law, PLLC posted in Sex Crimes on Thursday, February 14, 2019.

While it might not fit into the worst possible connotations of sex crimes, those who are charged with indecent exposure in the state will still face a litany of penalties that can negatively affect their life. In fact, it can result in jail time and require them to be on a sex offender registry. In some cases, however, the allegations are unfair. The case might have been an accident of circumstances or some other mistake could have happened that made it appear as if the person was violating the law when there was no malicious intent. Understanding the law for indecent exposure and having a law firm that understands criminal defense is essential to addressing the charges.

There will be a charge of indecent exposure if the person exposes genitals, the anus, the nipple or areola of the breast when there is another person present and the individual behaved recklessly regarding the other person being in the area and that victim could express alarm or take offense from the exposure. It is important to remember that there will be no charge of indecent exposure if a mother is breast feeding a child and another person is in the vicinity and sees it.

On behalf of Craig Williams, Attorney at Law, PLLC posted in DUI Charges on Thursday, February 7, 2019.

Prescott Valley residents can often get caught up in difficult circumstances that result in an arrest and the potential for severe penalties, if there is a conviction. Many times, this is related to alcohol. While it is often said that people facing multiple offenses must consider the importance of "protecting one's future," it is not something to take lightly. If the drunk driving charges are connected to assault and other allegations, having legal assistance from a law firm that handles many areas of criminal defense is vital to achieving a positive resolution.

For example, recently, a man who was said to be extremely intoxicated was arrested on several charges after a confrontation with law enforcement. The incident began in the mid-afternoon at around 4:30 p.m. Law enforcement was called because of a domestic dispute. When they got to the scene, a 42-year-old man got into a 2006 Audi and drove off. The vehicle was found and officers stopped the man. He allegedly refused to comply and drove away. After pursuing him to a dead-end street, he turned the vehicle and drove at the officers' vehicle. He avoided one and crashed into a second. He was ordered to get out of his vehicle and refused. Pepper balls were shot into the vehicle. He got out and was hit with a Taser. Officers stated he was under the influence, and he was arrested.

On behalf of Craig Williams, Attorney at Law, PLLC posted in DUI Charges on Wednesday, January 30, 2019.

Being arrested and charged with driving under the influence here can have a wide-ranging effect on a person's life. A conviction can result in a driver license suspension, fines, jail time and more. The penalties will vary based on the incident and its circumstances. That means if a person was significantly above the legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) level for DUI of 0.08 percent, the penalties will be harsher. And, understanding what can happen when a person is charged with extreme DUI is critical to lodging a strong defense and avoiding the worst possible penalties.

There will be an extreme DUI charge when a person has a BAC level of 0.15 percent or higher. That is nearly double the baseline amount to be charged with DUI. If it is a first offense and there is a conviction, the person will be jailed for a minimum of 30 days. He or she will not be eligible for probation or a suspended sentence. There will be a fine of at least $2,500. Alcohol treatment, education or screening will be required and the person will need to perform community service. An ignition interlock device will need to be placed on the person's vehicle.

On behalf of Craig Williams, Attorney at Law, PLLC posted in Drug Charges on Thursday, January 24, 2019.

When Prescott Valley law enforcement make a traffic stop, drivers are expected to do what they are told and follow the instructions given by the officer. In some cases, however, the driver will choose to flee.

There could be a variety of reasons for this. Perhaps, the person was frightened and did not know what to do. They might have warrants for their arrest. It is possible they were under the influence or had drugs in the vehicle. In most cases, the officers will find the people in the vehicle and an arrest will be made. Once the charges are filed, the decision to flee makes it even more problematic. Those who are confronted with the charges related to fleeing law enforcement and other allegations should make certain to have a legal assistance to craft a defense.

On behalf of Craig Williams, Attorney at Law, PLLC on Tuesday, January 22, 2019.

In general, domestic violence occurs when a relative or household member commits an act of abuse against another relative or household member. However, the act does not necessarily have to be violent. For example, domestic violence can also be emotional abuse, economic control and even neglect. Other types of domestic violence include assault and battery, criminal trespass and even disorderly conduct.

A domestic violence charge or conviction on your record can have some very serious consequences. Not only will you possibly face time in prison but you could feel the effects in other parts of your life as well. If you are facing such a charge, it will be beneficial to understand the basics of Arizona's domestic violence laws.

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